一緒に歩く亡霊The Ghost That Walks Together

Read a sample in Japanese

What you'll learn

Jinroku, a cruel farmer, mistreats his orphaned niece Fuji, who eventually dies of cold. Her ghost begins to haunt him, causing strange events. Jinroku tries to pray for protection but encounters Fuji's ghost at an inn and later at a tea house. After several supernatural occurrences including floating lanterns and a ghostly face, Jinroku finally appeases her spirit through proper funeral rites.

Key vocabulary

Grammar points you'll meet

• ～と云う N4Means 'called' or 'named'.
  奥州の其処に甚六と云う百姓があった。
• ～ようにして N3Means 'as if' or 'in such a way that'. Used to describe an action.
  その小女を野良犬か何かが家へ入って来たようにして、酷待めた。
• ～てしまう N4Indicates completion of an action, often with a sense of regret or finality.
  その声も何時か弱ってしまってばったりと聞えなくなった。
• ～かと思うと N2Means 'no sooner... than' or 'just when I thought...'.
  その時分にはもう年末におしつまっていたが、間もなく年が明けて正月の元日が来た。

Cultural notes

• 屠蘇 (Toso)A spiced medicinal sake traditionally drunk on New Year's Day in Japan to ward off evil spirits and promote health.
• 雑煮 (Zoni)A traditional Japanese New Year soup containing mochi (rice cakes) and various ingredients. It is eaten to celebrate the new year.
• 山伏 (Yamabushi)Mountain ascetic practitioners of Shugendo, a syncretic religion combining Buddhism, Shinto, and Taoist elements. They are often called upon for exorcisms and spiritual rituals.

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Topics & grammar

Short Storyghost storykarmaretributiondarkeerieaozora bunko〜てしまうte shimau · ended up (regret)〜という〜to iu · called / named〜かと思うとka to omou to · just when / no sooner than